Pneumatic-dispatch carrier



July 23, "1929. D. J. MacMILLAN PNEUMATIC DISPATCH CARRIER Filed Sept. 1928 nomto a 777ac7771'77an, 3351;;2/6

Patented July 23, 1929.

UNlTEh STA'lEg minis DANIEL J. MACMILLAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC-DISPATCH CARRIER.

Application filed September 6, 1928. Serial No. 304,212.

This invention has reference to devices known as pneumatic dispatch carriers, that are used for conveying small articles, such as documents or money, through a system of tubes, actuated by the air pressure in the tube, such as vacuum by withdrawing the air in advance of the carrier, or by a pressure system, that forces the carrier through the tubes by the air pressure back of the carrier.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of carrier that conveys the articles through the system, in which the carrier will beprovided at one or both end portions with an improved form of band or ring, of larger diameter than the tubular carrier between the bands, which bands engage the walls of the tube to guide the carrier in its passage, and which bands will reduce the friction tending to retard the advance of the carrier, and which bands will be of greater durability and general efficiency, at the same time of low cost of production.

In the accompanying drawing showing one embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the carrier.

Fig. 2 is an axial section through the carrier.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the carrier.

In devices of this character it has been the custom to provide some form of a band or ring at each end portion of the carrier, that will serve to engage the wall of the tube through which the carrier passes, so that the carrier will be supported. and guided at the end portions only, and free from contact with the carrier tube between the bands. Such bands have been formed of suitable material, such as rubber, or even felt has been used for this purpose. lNith such bands the rubber provides considerable friction tending to retard the movement, and requires considerable pressure of the air to advance the carrier. WVhere felt rings were employed they are subject to abrasion and rapid wear. On the other hand, if a dead smooth surface is provided on the band, it will not form a good tight fit in the tube, and permit escape of the air under pressure between the band and the tube.

The present invention will overcome these objections and difficulties, by the use of a band that will have a comparatively smooth outer surface for the larger portion of the periphery, while the other portion of the outer surface will have a greater frictional or tight engagement with the conveying tube, to prevent escape of the air under pressure.

As shown in the drawing the carrier may comprise the usual body in the form of a tube 7, of fiber or other suitable material, and which tube is shown as having one end closed by a disc 8, the other end 9 being left open, for the insertion of the documents or other articles to be conveyed by the carrier.

At one endof the tube is applied a band or ring 10, formed of a comparatively thick soft textile material, such as. felt. This band may be in the form of a strip that is placed around the tube with the ends abutting, and which band or ring is secured tightly to the tube 7 the felt band 10, and suitably secured to the belt band, as by a suitable cement or glue; and which band preferably has the ends lapping and is secured by the adhesive. It will be seen that this band 12 is of less width than the innor band 10 of felt, whereby the felt band is exposed at each end portion beyond the edges of the outer band 12, as clearly shown in the drawing; thus providingtwo narrow bands or zones 13 and 14 at the end portions of the inner left hand 10. The outer linen band 12 is preferably tightly applied or secured to the felt band, that will be under slight compression, and this will result in the exposed felt bands at 13 and 14, projecting outwardly a slight distance beyond the intermediate band 12 of linen, as shown in Fig. 2.

At the other end ofthe carrier tube 7a felt band 11 is secured to the tube, and which has a linen band 15 secured thereon, the construction of these bands 11 and 15 being substantially identical with the described bands 10 and 12.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a carrier with a supporting band at each end portion, that will have the larger portion of the band formed of a strong and durable material and which will not cause undue friction; and which bands will have asmaller zone or portion at the ends that will serve to engage the carrier tube and prevent escape of the air under pressure. It will be further seen that such construction is of low cost, being merely a strip of felt and a strip of linen; and which also can be very easily in any suitable manner, such as by a suitable I and quickly applied, by merely cementing the felt bands in position, and thereupon cementing the linen strip onto the applied felt the left hand with the open end at the right,

so that the article can be inserted into the carrier by the right hand; and therefore if the carrier is grasped by the left hand, the closed end may be at the right, and the carrier must be turned end for end before the article can be inserted. To avoid this unnecessary operation, I cause thecarrier to be distinctively marked at one end portion, preferably the open, end. As shown in the drawing I apply a marking orband 18 to the tube adjacent the band 11, and which may be of a difierent color from the tube 7. If the latter is of fiber of a red color, this band 18 might be yellow. This will permit the user to graspthe carrier so that the yellow end portion is at the right, and the article can be at once inserted.

What I claim is 1. In a pneumatic dispatch carrier, a body tube, a band of comparatively thick textile material such as felt that surrounds the tube at each end and is secured to the tube, and a band of comparatively thin strong textile fabric such as linen that surrounds each said felt band and which is secured thereto, and which outer band is of less width than the inner band whereby the inner band will extend beyond the outer band at each end portion of the inner band to cause the said ex tended portions of the inner band to project outwardly to engage the conveyor tube.

2. In a pneumatic dispatch carrier, a body tube, a band of comparatively thick'textile material such as felt that surrounds the tube at each end and is secured to the tube by an adhesive, and a band of comparatively thin strong textile fabric such as linen that surrounds each felt band and which is secured thereto, and which outer band is of less width than the inner band whereby the inner band will extend beyond the outer band at each end portion of the inner bandto cause the said extended portions of the inner band to project outwardly to engage the conveyor tube.

3. In a pneumatic dispatch carrier, a body tube, a band of comparatively thick textile material such as felt that surrounds the tube at each end and is secured to the tube, and a band of comparatively thin strong fabric such as linen that surrounds each said felt band and which is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive with the ends lapping, and which outer band is of lesswidth than the inner band whereby the inner band will extend beyond the outer band at eachend portion of the inner band to cause the said extended portions of the inner band to project outwardly to engage the conveyor tube.-

4:. In a pneumatic dispatch carrier, a body tube, a band of comparativelythick textile material such as felt that surrounds the tube at each end and is secured to the tube by an adhesive, and a band of comparatively thin strong fabric such as linen that surrounds each said felt band and which is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive with the ends lapping and which outer band is of less width than the inner band whereby the inner band will extend beyond the outer band at each end portion of the inner band to cause the said extended portions of the inner band tobproject outwardly to engage. the conveyor tu e.

5. In a pneumatic dispatch carrier, a body tube, a band of comparatively thick textile material such as felt that surrounds the tube at each end portion and is secured to the tube by adhesive, and a band of comparative thin strong textile fabric such as linen that surrounds each said felt band and is secured thereto by a suitable adhesive.

Signed at New York city, N. Y. on August 31, 1928. V

' DANIEL J. MAoMILLAN. 

